Courts / Fifth Circuit

Eastern District of Texas

Written decisions in the mandamus and agency-delay group from this court, and the agency-delay suits filed there.

2,914 written decisions from 2,661 cases in the whole mandamus and agency-delay group, the group's newest decided October 30, 2026. Updated November 3, 2026 at 1:24 a.m. CT; the Passim connector counts the live collection, which can differ by the day's additions and retirements (which total to quote). Coverage: of the 1,606 public decisions since January 1, 2025 that a CourtListener and GovInfo search for mandamus and agency delay finds, Passim holds 1,371 (85%), measured November 3, 2026. Some of what that search finds are not mandamus decisions. Tell us about a decision we're missing.

These are counts of past written decisions and dockets, not predictions of how any case will be decided. A distribution appears only when at least 5 decisions (or 5 dockets) are behind it; smaller groups are listed, not summarized. How it's counted.

How the decisions came out

This page counts 10 of the group's written decisions, from 10 cases; the newest of them was decided September 28, 2026. The line at the top counts the whole group.

10written decisions
10cases they come from
1decisions weigh the TRAC factors
–median months from the application to the suit

Each case counts once in these outcome counts, by its latest decision here. A motion to dismiss denied and a later judgment for the government count as the judgment. How decisions are grouped into cases.

Disposition, by case

  • Denied (either side's motion)4
  • Dismissed1
  • Dismissed as moot1
  • Remanded to the agency1
  • Magistrate judge's recommendation2
  • Transferred to another court1

Prevailing party, by case

  • Applicant1
  • Government5
  • Neither side4

Months from the application to the suit

Fewer than five cases state it (4); no distribution is shown.

1 of these is a section 1447(b) naturalization suit, whose months run from the application; the statute's 120 days run from the interview, which these figures do not measure.

Months from the application to the court's decision

22.9 months at the median; half fall between 4 and 32.1. 5 decisions state it.

Leaves out the 1 decision holding that the agency had acted: its months to the decision are not a delay.

What the suits asked for, by case

  • Decide the application4
  • Schedule an interview1
  • Finish 221(g) processing2
  • Naturalization hearing or remand (1447(b))1
  • Issue a work permit1
  • Not recorded1

Agency, by case

  • USCIS6
  • Department of State3
  • Not recorded1

Form or filing, by case

  • 221(g) (consular refusal)2
  • DS-260 (immigrant visa)2
  • I-485 (adjustment of status)2
  • I-765 (EAD)2
  • DS-160 (nonimmigrant visa)1
  • I-129 (worker petition)1
  • I-130 (relative petition)1
  • I-539 (change or extension of stay)1
  • N-400 (naturalization)1

Decisions by year

Download these 10 decisions as a spreadsheet (CSV).

Examples

The newest case with each of the most common dispositions, by its latest decision.

How agency-delay suits ended

Most suits end without a written decision: the agency acts and the parties dismiss. These counts come from the docket record (the federal courts' Integrated Database and CourtListener) and count every mandamus, APA and section 1447(b) suit against any immigration agency, whatever year it was filed. Check a delay counts fewer: a court's suits of the last three years against the form's agency.

375suits in the docket record
344have ended
31still pending
92median days from the suit's filing to its end

How the ended suits ended

  • Ended once the agency actedThe plaintiff dismissed, the parties stipulated to dismissal, or the court dismissed as moot: how suits end once the agency decides. The docket rarely says why, or whether the agency approved or denied.223
  • Dismissed, ground not recordedThe court dismissed and the record gives no ground: it can be a dismissal as moot after the agency acted, for want of prosecution, or a loss.85
  • Ended, outcome not recordedThe record shows the suit ended but not how.25
  • TransferredMoved to another district court.7
  • Dismissed on jurisdiction or the meritsDismissed for want of jurisdiction or on the TRAC factors, or judgment for the government.4

Days from the suit's filing to its end

92 days at the median; half fall between 55 and 168.2. 344 dockets state it.

Days from the suit's filing to its end, when it ended once the agency acted

91 days at the median; half fall between 57 and 147. 223 dockets state it.

16 of these suits have a written decision in the group.

Download the 375 suits in the docket record as a spreadsheet (CSV).